Strasbourg and Rayo Vallecano set for Conference League semi-final clash
Strasbourg and Rayo Vallecano will meet in the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals after both navigated tense quarter-final second legs on Thursday. Strasbourg, having already secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Mainz in the first leg, completed the formalities with a professional performance to advance. Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, survived a major scare against AEK Athens, losing 3-1 on the night but progressing 4-3 on aggregate thanks to their emphatic first-leg win.
Rayo's passage to the final four was far from straightforward. Despite holding a 3-0 lead from the first meeting in Madrid, the Spanish side found themselves under intense pressure in Greece. AEK's Zini opened the scoring in the 13th minute, and a penalty converted by Razvan Marin made it 2-0 before halftime, putting the tie on a knife-edge. Zini completed his brace with a header early in the second half to level the aggregate score, leaving Rayo Vallecano needing a goal to avoid elimination.
The crucial response came from captain Isi Palazon, who rifled a powerful left-footed strike past goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha in the 60th minute. That away goal proved decisive, calming nerves and ensuring Iñigo Pérez's team edged through to face the French side. Strasbourg's comprehensive victory over Mainz, meanwhile, continues a remarkable European campaign for the Ligue 1 outfit, who have emerged as serious contenders for the trophy.
In the other half of the draw, Crystal Palace secured their semi-final berth despite a 2-1 defeat away to Fiorentina. Having won the first leg in London, the Premier League side saw an early lead from Ismaila Sarr canceled out before half-time. A stunning long-range strike from Cher Ndour gave the Italian side victory on the night, but Palace advanced on aggregate. They will now face Shakhtar Donetsk, who held AZ Alkmaar to a 2-2 draw in the Netherlands to progress.
The semi-final pairings set up a intriguing clash of styles between Strasbourg's fluid attacking play and Rayo Vallecano's resilient, counter-attacking approach. For Strasbourg, reaching this stage represents a significant achievement and a potential gateway to a historic European final in Leipzig. Rayo Vallecano, having defied expectations to overcome AEK Athens, will look to captain Palazon for further inspiration as they aim to continue their own unlikely continental journey.
